How is Lyme Disease diagnosed?

Answer 1

Lyme disease was first recognized in the United States in 1975 by Dr. Allen Steere, following a mysterious outbreak of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis near the community of Lyme, Connecticut. The rural location of the Lyme outbreak and the onset of illness during summer and early fall suggested that the transmission of the disease was by an arthropod vector.

In 1982, the etiologic agent of Lyme disease was discovered by Willy Burgdorfer, who isolated spirochetes belonging to the genus Borrelia from the mid-guts of Ixodes ticks. He showed that these spirochetes reacted with immune serum from patients that had been diagnosed with Lyme disease. Subsequently, the etiologic agent was given the name Borrelia burgdorferi. Since then, reports of Lyme disease have increased dramatically to the point that the disease has become an important public health problem in some areas of the United States. Today, Lyme disease is the most prevalent tick-borne illness in the United States.

Answer 2

You can get lyme disease by a tick bite. Ticks and all biting insects transmits the Borellia bacterium which is responsible for Lyme disease. It is high contagious by sneezing, exchanging body fluids, being licked by a dog or cat, etc,

Answer 3

Lyme disease must be diagnosed by a physician after a clinical evaluation. Laboratory tests may be ordered as well, though they are not completely accurate at this time. The easiest detection of the disease occurs when the bulls-eye rash is present, which is an indicator of Lyme disease.

Answer 4

Lyme disease is caused by a spirochete which is passed to humans via a tick bite. The tick is commonly a deer tick which is why people who have recently been is forest areas/camping site/woods or (classically) upstate new york, should take precautions against ticks/tick bites. Initially the bite is painless and followed by a target type rash. If you go to your doctor at this point (though some people do not) then you can be treated with a course of oral antibiotics.

Answer 5

Lyme disease is typically diagnosed based on symptoms, medical history, and a physical examination. A blood test can also be done to detect antibodies against the bacteria that cause Lyme disease. In some cases, additional tests such as a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test may be used to confirm diagnosis.

Answer 6

Lyme disease is a bacterial infection spread through the bite of the blacklegged tick.

Answer 7

There's no way to tell. In our area, which has a high incidence, our pratice is to assume all deer ticks carry Lyme.